Nicholas Creamery opens in Atlantic Highlands

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Brian Johnston

Nicholas Creamery will serve flavors such as The G.O.A.T., which is goat cheese ice cream with roasted strawberries, balsamic glaze, and black pepper.(Photo: COURTESY OF JODIE EDWARDS)

If you have ever dined at Restaurant Nicholas in Middletown, you probably had dessert.

And that dessert most likely came with one perfect scoop of the most delicious ice cream, in a flavor like whipped cream, Grand Marnier or horchata.

These housemade ice creams are crafted by chef and owner Nicholas Harary and pastry chef Kelly West, and now, the ice creams are becoming the stars of the show.

Nicholas Creamery, a collaboration between Harary, his wife, Melissa, and his longtime business director Jodie Edwards, will open Friday at 84 First Ave. in Atlantic Highlands, in the space previously occupied by Nancie's Ice Cream. A second shop will open in Fair Haven, at 586 River Road, this summer.

“Restaurant Nicholas has made its own ice cream for years, and I’m often asked by customers if they can purchase the ice cream we serve in our desserts," Harary said in a news release. "It seemed like a natural thing to do since we already perfected the ice cream recipes."

The debut menu of ice creams, which will be made with ingredients sourced from local farmers and food artisans, will come in such classic flavors as Tahitian vanilla bean, Valhrona chocolate, and mint chip, plus specialty flavors Kentucky Dreamin', made with Nicholas Select Four Roses Bourbon and roasted coffee from Hudson Cafe in Atlantic Highlands, and salted caramel cone, which is salted caramel ice cream and chocolate chips in a waffle cone.

“We are excited to open the creameries in our home towns of Atlantic Highlands and Fair Haven," Edwards said. "We love our vibrant Shore communities and believe they will embrace our mission of making the most delicious, homemade ice cream. ”

Nicholas Creamery will be open from 3 to 10 p.m. Mondays through Sundays. Summer hours, beginning in June, will be from noon to 10 p.m. For more information, visit www.nicholascreamery.com.

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